Ex-Shelton official turns herself in to police

Anne M. Amato

Updated 10:40 pm, Wednesday, January 23, 2013

SHELTON -- The city's former assistant finance director, who was the focus of a criminal probe into the alleged theft of hundreds of thousands of dollars, was arrested Wednesday afternoon by State Police.

Sharon Scanlon, who surrendered at the Bethany barracks, is charged with one count of first-degree larceny and 56 counts of first-degree forgery. She was released on a $100,000 surety bond and is scheduled to appear at state Superior Court in Milford on Feb. 5.

Shelton Mayor Mark A. Lauretti said Wednesday the amount allegedly taken by Scanlon could be "at least a half-million dollars."

The criminal investigation into Scanlon's alleged theft began in late August, after the funds were discovered missing. Scanlon, who could not be reached for comment Wednesday, resigned shortly before the probe began. She held the city finance job for 17 years.

"After a lengthy investigation, it was determined that the accused (Scanlon) drafted fraudulent checks from the Shelton City Hall and deposited these fraudulent checks into her personal checking account, at selected locations, via ATM, over a period of 10 years," according to a state police news release.

Scanlon's attorney, Willie Dow, said she has "the support of her family and many people beyond her family. She voluntarily surrendered and she is ready to go to court to answer the charges."

Scanlon oversaw the accounting and control section of the city's Finance Department, which handles accounts payable. Her job included processing vendor payments and grant money, and handling the city's payroll accounts.

"There's not much to say," Lauretti said when asked for comment on Scanlon's arrest. "It's a sad commentary. It's disheartening."

Lauretti said the city did its own investigation into the matter before turning things over to state police.

"Our investigation was significant and thorough," Lauretti said.

The city has already started the process to put liens on Scanlon's property, including her house at 23 Crescent Drive, which is assessed at $285,110.

Louis Marusic, who had served as Shelton's finance director for 31 years, was placed on paid administrative leave by Lauretti the day he announced the criminal investigation.

The mayor said, at the time, that Marusic was not a suspect in the matter. Marusic has since been replaced by Paul Hiller as finance director.

Scanlon's arrest is the latest in a series of recent incidents involving fraud in municipal offices in the Naugatuck Valley.

Karen Guillet, the former Oxford tax collector, was sentenced to 12 years in prison, suspended after four, in November. Guillet pleaded guilty to first-degree larceny for taking at least $243,902 in town funds.

Bridget Bostic, Ansonia's tax collector, was put on administrative leave after admitting to issuing DMV releases to city employees.